| What scene serves as comic relief? | Gravedigger scene (probably digging Ophelia’s grave) |
| What bothers Hamlet about the gravedigger? | He’s singing as he digs the gravesHam thinks that his job should be sad & somber |
| What bothers Hamlet about the skulls? | They were once humans & now, they aren’t treated with any respect |
| What does the gravedigger not realize? | He’s talking about Hamlet to Hamlet (doesn’t realize that it’s Ham) |
| Yorick | King’s jester (entertainer) |
| When did Yorick die? | 23 years ago |
| Ham’s age | 23 < Ham's age < 30 |
| Ham’s philosophy on death | At the end of the day, everyone winds up dead in the same place, no matter how great of a person you are (gave an example of Alexander the Great) |
| Who does Ham see approaching the gravedigger’s hole? | Laertes, King, Queen, & a coffin |
| What does Ham assume about the person inside the coffin? | He/she committed suicideBurial didn’t have a proper ceremony (suicide was looked down upon) |
| What does Laertes do to Ophelia’s coffin? | Opens it up & jumps in to hug her one last time |
| Why does Laertes want to be buried with Ophelia? | He’s lost everyone in his life already, so he might as well be buried alive with her |
| What does Laertes call Ham when they first see each other? | The devil |
| What did Ham & Laertes argue about at the graveyard? | Who loved Ophelia more |
| What did Ham do to the letter carried by Rose & Guild that had instructions for the King of England to kill him? | Changed the letter’s instructions in order for it the King of England to kill Rose & GuildHam sealed the letter with his father’s seal |
| Osric | Courtier (helps around the castle)Comic relief character |
| How does Ham feel about the fencing match? | Not good |
| What does Horatio tell Ham regarding the match? | It can be stalled if Ham doesn’t feel prepared mentally & physically |
| Does Ham want to postpone the match? | No |
| Why doesn’t Ham postpone the match? | He’s going to die sooner or later, so what’s the point of postponing the inevitableNo one knows their exact time of death, so just let it happen |
| What does Ham ask of Laertes? | Asks for forgiveness |
| What excuse does Ham make regarding the wrongs he has made towards Laertes? | Claims that his madness wronged Laertes, not Hamlet himself (problem: Hamlet wasn’t really crazy) |
| Does Laertes accept Ham’s apology? | Man to man, YesIn terms of honor, Laertes must fight Hamlet to defend his father & he can’t just let Ham’s actions go |
| When Laertes switches foils, what is he looking for? | Pointy foil |
| What does the king say regarding the wine? | If Ham gets a point, he will drink to Ham & Ham will win a valuable pearl |
| What does the pearl indicate? | Poison that is intended to go into the wine |
| When Ham gets his 1st point, what does the King do? | Drinks to Ham & then puts the pearl in the wine afterwards & offers it to Ham |
| Why doesn’t Ham want to drink? | He doesn’t want to play impaired |
| How much is Ham winning by? | 2-0 |
| After Ham’s 2nd point, what does Gertrude do? | Raises the poisoned cup to Ham |
| What does Claudius do following Gertrude’s actions of raising the cup? | Yells at her to not drink it |
| What does Gertrude do with the cup of wine? | She asks the king for permission to drink & drinks the poisoned wine out of excitement for Ham |
| How does Laertes feel about the whole plan? | Uneasy (he has a conscience) |
| What does Laertes manage to do to Ham? | Scratch him with his foil |
| What happens during the scuffle between Ham & Laertes? | They switch foils (Ham gets pointy one & Laertes gets the regular one) & Ham wounds Laertes |
| What excuse did the King give when the Queen fell? | She fainted from all the blood |
| What does the Queen say before she dies? | The drink poisoned her |
| What does Laertes say before he dies? | Tells Ham that he’s poisoned tooForgives Ham & asks him for forgiveness tooKing planned everythingHe got what he deserved |
| Does Ham forgive Laertes? | Yes, but is still angry with Gertrude |
| What does Ham want Horatio to do? | Tell people the real story of what happened because he’s been there through everything (including Ghost of Banquo) |
| While watching Ham die, what does Horatio want to do? | He wants to die too (picks up wine) |
| Why doesn’t Ham want Horatio dead? | He needs him alive to share the story |
| Before Ham dies, who does he make king? | Young Fortinbras |
| Who breaks into the castle after Ham’s death? | Young Fortinbras & his troops |
| Why does Ham make Young Fortinbras king? | He admired his aggression, power, & attitude; he was everything Ham wasn’t; he would get the job done |
| Why did the English ambassador travel to Denmark? | Wanted to deliver the news that the “king’s” orders have been fulfilled & that Rose & Guild are dead |
| How did Fort actually want to become king? | Through war & conquering of Denmark |
| Horatio tells Fort the truth before…. | People start gossipping |
| “Her death was doubtful” | PriestOphelia’s death was suspicious |
| “A minist’ring angel shall my sister be” | Laertes |
| “I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife” | Gertrude |
| “I loved Ophelia” | Ham |
| “But thou wouldst not think how ill all’s here about my heart” | HamDoesn’t feel right about the match |
| “There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow” | HamThere is a special honor in the death of something small |
| “And yet it is almost against my conscience” | LaertesMixed emotions about the plan |
| “I am justly killed with mine own treachery” | LaertesHe got what he deserved |
| “Thou art slain” | LaertesTells Ham that he’s gonna die too |
| “He is justly served” | LaertesKing got what he deserved |
| “Wretched queen, adieu” | HamTalking about his mother |
| “The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit” | HamHe feels the poison |
| “The rest is silence” | HamHam’s last words |
| “So shall you hear of carnal, bloody & unnatural acts, of accidental judgments, casual slaughters” | HoratioHe can tell Fortinbras the truth |
| “For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune” | FortinbrasNot how he wanted to become king; wanted to become king through war & conquering |
| “Let 4 captains bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, for he was likely, had he been put on, to have proved most royal” | FortinbrasGives Ham a proper funeral; has mutual respect for Ham; Ham would’ve been a great king |
Hamlet Act 5
August 12, 2019